Following the last year of landmark decrees aimed at supporting Saudi women’s increased participation in the Kingdom’s economic development, there has been a recent surge in the number women applying for jobs across various industries.
According to Saudi Gazette, the Directorate General of Passports received 107,000 job applications from Saudi women in just one week. The number of jobs openings posted on its website that garnered such an unexpectedly high response rate were in fact 140, which included positions at immigration at the Kingdom’s airports, seaports, and land crossings.
The Saudi government has been working diligently on creating more job opportunities for women, an objective that falls under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify Saudi Arabia’s oil-dependent economy.
The Saudi Ministry of Justice recently announced plans to hire 300 Saudi women in the first stage of its female employment program following a decision by Minister Walid Al-Samaani to find vacancies for Saudi women in four sectors. It is being reported that appointees will be recruited to fill social, legal and Shariah research positions, in addition to administrative assistant posts.
The Kingdom’s Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) has also recently sent 130 Saudi women abroad as part of its external scholarships program. TVTC's External Scholarship Program Director Bandar Al-Saadon explained that 110 of the students have already graduated while 20 students are still completing their studies abroad.
“The total number of students, men and women, in the program has reached 1,800 since its launch. Our students study in 11 different countries. Currently 150 students are still studying on the program,” said Al-Saadon. “The most popular destinations of our scholarship students are the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Canada.”
As more and more Saudi women head towards the job market this year, they are also gearing up for June when the decree allowing female motorists to take the roads across the Kingdom will officially be in effect. It has been recently announced by the chairman of the Public Transport Authority (PTA), Rumaih Al-Rumaih, that not only will Saudi women finally be able to drive, they will now also be able to work as taxicab drivers.
